Red Bank Catholic Downs Ocean Township Behind Liggetts'Masterpiece

Photo above: Liggett at work on the mound in Thursday’s action at Count Basie Field.

RED BANK – The Caseys bounced back nicely after losing their first game of the season Tuesday behind Justin Liggett’s complete game 5-0 shutout of Class B North rival Ocean Township (8-2, 2-2) Thursday at Count Basie Field.

The junior left-hander allowed three hits, struck out six and walked three in seven innings of work holding the top five hitters in the Ocean lineup to a combined 0-for-12 on the day.

He permitted only one runner to advance as far as third base when in the top of the sixth with the Caseys holding a 3-0 lead, Spartan catcher Marc Chernin reached on a two-out error, was balked to second and an infield hit by Frank Henry put runners at first and third. Liggett (3-0) then struck out third baseman Tyler Rossback on a fastball on the outside corner to end the would-be threat.

“We just wanted to get back on track and start getting some more wins down,” Liggett said. “I was just trying to pick-up my teammates and throw strikes. My two seam was working well, curveball was always working - that’s my best pitch - and I was hitting spots with my fastball. I like the off-speed stuff because it keeps batters off balance. It felt pretty good to get the win.”

“I knew what Justin was capable of,” Casey head coach Buddy Hausmann said. “We had a lot of seniors last season and that’s the only reason he didn’t pitch varsity. He went into a tough Toms River South and shut them down the other night, pitching just like he did today. That’s not an easy environment for anyone, but I thought it was a good time to put him in to get him experience for bigger division games and tournament time. Justin’s been around the program for a long time; I’ve coached a Liggett brother (3) every year in my 11 years at RBC, so he’s seen it and knows what to expect.”

Ocean senior right-hander Blake DeMeter and Liggett were locked into a scoreless pitching duel through three innings. DeMeter allowed only a single by senior Mike Ianelli in the bottom of the second that was immediately wiped out on a 6-1 double play, while Liggett held the Spartans in check with four K’s through three.

In the bottom of the fourth, senior left fielder Chris Bender led off with a ground-rule double over the head of right fielder Jake Talarico positioning himself in scoring position. DeMeter almost wiggled his way out of the no-out jam by striking out the next two batters before the Wagner-bound Ianelli lined a RBI single into left for a 1-0 Casey lead.

The Caseys manufactured two runs the next inning on a lead-off single by Anthony DeRosa, a sacrifice bunt by junior first baseman Michael Spinelli with both runners’ safe and a wild pitch to put runners on second and third. Junior short stop Evan Madigan then drilled a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield scoring DeRosa and moving Spinelli over to third. Bender made it 3-0 with a RBI ground single past the first baseman.

“I was waiting for the offense, and once we got those two runs I felt even better,” Liggett said. “That allowed me to relax a little and just concentrate on my game.”

After getting out of the top of the sixth unscathed, Liggett was given another two runs to work with in the bottom of the inning.

The Caseys broke out the lumber in the bottom of the sixth with two almost identical booming triples over the head of the centerfielder Sam Maxwell. Leading off the inning, cleanup hitter Doug Facendo drilled one to the fence in dead centerfield and then DeMeter again almost escaped with back-to-back strike outs, but DeRosa brought Facendo home duplicating his triple to center. Spinelli stepped in and drove home DeRosa with a single into short center for a 5-0 lead.

Liggett was almost untouchable through the final four innings and at one point retiring 9-of-10 batters with the 10th reaching on a dropped strike three. Entering the seventh, he showed no signs of tiring, setting the side down in order to close out the game for his third win of the season against no defeats.

“The teams a young group that’s jelling well,” Hausmann said. “They’re hungry and want to do well and continue the legacy here. They pick each other up. Someone different comes through every game which is what you should do as a team.”

DeRosa, Bender and Ianelli all finished 2-for-3 with DeRosa adding a triple, RBI and two runs scored, Bender a double, RBI and run scored and Ianelli an RBI. Madigan had a sac fly RBI, Facendo a triple and run scored and Spinelli added an RBI single.

DeMeter went the distance in the loss allowing eight hits, walked none and struck out six. Henry, Rossback and Kenny Pickett each singled to account for the Spartans’ only hits.

Entering the game, the Caseys (8-1, 6-1) were ranked No.4 in the Shore and No.13 in the state while the Spartans were ranked eighth in the Shore. Add in Colts Neck - ranked fifth in the Shore and No.21 in the state – and three teams in the always tough Class B North are ranked in either the Shore, state or both.

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